The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-17
WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED
TheCounty superintendent Discuss Ed
ucational Methods and Adjourn.
Exercises Of the Seniors at Butler Are Attend
ed by Disgracefnl Disturbances-The
Episcopal Institutes Closing Exercises.

During the session of the County Superintend-
ents' Association, yesterday C. NJ. Merica read
a paper on 1.-THE Literary Review in Teachers
Examinations He urged that it necessary
for teachers to have large acquaintance with
leading authors in order TO create in pupils a
fondness for good books. The reading circle, as
it does not reach all. is for this purpose inefi-
cient There must be some incentive stronger
than the desire of Improvements to induce all
teachers to read. Literary culture should be
made a necessary requirement, and the literary
review meets il.
S. n. Cragun, of Boone county, thought that
a review of a certain book for each month of the
school year should be required.
Calvin Moon, of St Joseph county. objected
to the present method and offered resolution
requesting the State Board of Education to either
wholly rescind its order regarding reviews
feature of examination work or modify it SO that
the book upon which applicants shall be exam
ined shall be named in advance for
each month of the year. 1t was turtle
requested that instead of presenting
views previously written, the applicant shall
be required TO answer five questions. and, in ad-
dition thereto, then and there write review
upon such part of the book as may be designated
by the State board. The resolution was laid on
the table, but afterwards adopted in the report
submitted by the committee on resolutions
In the afternoon a paper on compulsory attend
ance was read by A. N. Crecraft. of Franklin
county. subject that was also discussed by
Benz. T. johnson. of Benton county.
Prof r. G. Boone. president of the Indiana
Teachers Reading Circle spoke of the workings
of the circle throughout the State. During the
first year ]. 304 teachers joined the Reading Cir
Gle. paying the mem bership fee of twenty-five
cents. OF these. eighty eight took the examina-
ton In whole or in part. In the second year the
circle had a membership of 2.306 teachers. 125
of the number taking the examinations. Dur
ing the third year ,052 joined the organization.
He appealed to the superintendents TO support
the circle, as it was of great benefit to teachers
and 10 the schools.
The committee on forms of license recon-
menied first, that the common school license be
graded as heretofore, with certain alterations,
the grade for scholarship to be made upon a
scale of l00 such average scholarship to be OBJ
tanned by grading the eight common branches,
theory of teaching, and the literary review
or essay. To this average scholarship should be
added the grade. for success, and the sum there
of divided by two, to obtain the general average
Primary certificates of license to teach in the
first, second. third and fourth years of the pr-
mary department. of the town and city graded
schools, should be issued in the same form. with
the substitution in the grading of the term
Language" for grammar" and with a proper
space thereon for a statement of the special pro-
fessional training of the primary teacher receiv-
ing such license. After brief discussion the
report was adopted.
The committee on resolutions presented a re-
port in which the action of the State Board of
Education, in its recent order providing for
special examination and license of primary
teachers, Endorsed. It also favored the
cause of the Indiana State Teachers Reading
Circle, and urged the superintendents to
their utmost endeavors to increase the member
ship and general usefulness of the work in their
respective counties
The following also submitted and adopted
Resolved That is the of this body that the
Legislature of Indiana ought to pass BILL at its next
regular session. requiring compulsory attendance of
children at the common schools of the State.
The officers elected for the ensuing year are:
President-Harvey NJ. Lafollette of Boone county.
First Vice presdent-C. n. Merica of De Kalb.
Second Vice presidential n. Crecraft, of Franklin.
Secretary-H. Devoris. of Johnson.
Treasurer-S. y. Cragun, of Boone.
The association then ad journed to meet at the
call of the president In the evening a social
reunion was enjoyed at the Grand Hotel